Frome Rural PACT priority – Poaching

Agreed on
August 7, 2019.
Updated on
30th May, 2020

Gamekeepers and the farming community are often those most affected by or are witness to rural crime.

They provide the eyes and the ears of the countryside and often suffer the consequences of rural crime. Poaching can lead to a number of animal welfare issues, serious loss of income from the illegal taking of game and the damage which many offenders carry out to farmland in the process of carrying out these crimes.

Poachers are usually involved with many other rural crimes as well.

As landowners and gamekeepers, please remain vigilant and report anything suspicious. If it is an emergency call 999 or if non-urgent call 101. Any intelligence you can provide to us reference poaching /rural crime would be much appreciated by your rural beat team.

Actions

Saturday 30th May, 2020

We have received some reports of hare coursing. We continue to conduct patrols in the targeted areas with a view to identifying the culprits and their vehicles.

We continue to work with our colleagues within the Avon and Somerset Rural Affairs Unit and neighbouring constabularies to share intelligence and target vehicles and persons involved in poaching activity.

We encourage you to remain vigilant and contact us with any information you have regarding this matter.

We are working with our colleagues within the Avon and Somerset Rural Affairs Unit and Wiltshire Police to share intelligence and target vehicles and persons involved in poaching activity.

Thursday 27th February, 2020

We have not received any recent intelligence to suggest any poaching or hare coursing.

However, we would encourage you to remain vigilant and contact us with any information you have regarding this matter.

Wednesday 29th January, 2020

Two vehicles have been seized and taken off our roads this week. These vehicles were highlighted to us and neighbouring forces of being involved in poaching/hare coursing activity.

You can pass on important intelligence via 101 or text information via our Farmwatch text number 07492888109 (No crimes to be reported via this text number.) Alternatively if you wish to remain anonymous you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Saturday 25th January, 2020

On the 20th January, we held our quarterly PACT meeting at The Royal British Legion in Coleford. It was decided by the attendees that poaching should be kept as a priority for the area.

Thursday 16th January, 2020

There have been recent reports of poaching in the Frome area. Please consider the following action for a poaching incident / event:

At the recent Frome rural PACT meeting on the 29th October 2019, it was agreed by all those that attended to continue with this as being one of the rural priorities.

Wednesday 23rd October, 2019

Anti-poaching operation carried out this week.

High visibility patrols of rural locations and surrounding areas identified by intelligence, for the purpose of locating and disrupting offenders committing poaching offences. Numerous vehicles stopped during this operation.

Meetings have been held with a neighbouring police force where intelligence has been shared about individuals, vehicles and locations involved in poaching activity.

Monday 7th October, 2019

In the last month we’ve been visiting our local farms and as a result new locations for poaching have been highlighted. We will be working with local reporting parties to identify suspect vehicles and offenders.

Sunday 22nd September, 2019

The Neighbourhood Policing Team have been actively patrolling at locations that have been identified to us as having issues of poaching/ hare coursing.

A vehicle that has been linked with poaching / hare coursing has been seized by officers and taken off the road. One less vehicle on the road committing offences of this nature.

Monday 9th September, 2019

Over the last few weeks we have been receiving intelligence around persons/vehicles involved in poaching but we still need more.

We ask that if you notice any of your gate padlocks broken or suspicious vehicles or vehicle tyre marks in fields/gateways please let us know.

You can pass on important intelligence via 101 or text information via our FARMWATCH text number 07492888109. If needing to report a crime please use 101 or if wanting to remain anonymous you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

Sunday 25th August, 2019

We have conducted rural crime patrols over the bank holiday weekend and can confirm that we have not received any reports of wildlife related crime.

Thursday 15th August, 2019

The beat team have been meeting with gamekeepers and landowners this week, to talk about preventative measures and the need to report all poaching incidents with as much information as possible/known.

If you sight any suspicious vehicle / activity please report – You can pass on important intelligence via 101 or text information via our FARMWATCH text number 07492888109(no crimes to be reported via this text number) alternatively if you wish to remain anonymous you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 11.